Found Poem -- June 8 to August 23, 2006 -- Opening Space for Conflict and Peace

Sun Aug 27 11:55:10 PDT 2006

Awesome Lisa - Thankyou!

Argene 

Carswell and Associates
1235 Jefferson Davis Highway
Suite 1600, #141
Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 318-5631

-----Original Message-----
From: lisaheft at openingspace.net
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Sent: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:43 PM
Subject: Found Poem -- June 8 to August 23, 2006 -- Opening Space for Conflict and Peace

Hello, dear colleagues –

For the past several months I have held the honor of being the OSLIST Poet Laureate.  With awe and respect I have gathered your words to create ‘found poems’ to share back with you all, as inspired by our colleague and past Poet Laureate, Ms. Laurel Doersam of Canada.  You can find some of the other found poems I have shared by searching in the OSLIST archives and using the key words “Found Poem” in the “subject is or contains…” area of the search page.  Titles included “Holding / My Truest Self / Space”, “The Mystery of Open Space” and “Touch the Now.”  You may remember some of the words I share with you below from a conversation thread with the titles of “A note from a young friend” and “A note for Josef”.  This is a long poem.  Pour yourself a cup of tea…     Lisa

___________________________________________________ 

Opening Space for Conflict and Peace
Found Poem -- June 8 to August 23, 2006

I'm very concerned about the war 
I read the news about it everywhere. 

I found a newspaper 
and read the news

People died 
children and old people. 

oh my God, I couldn't stand to read it. 

I saw the news on the TV
people suffered... 

I turned my radio on and heard the news 

After the news, 

I cried. 

What is wrong with this world?? 
Why do they do that?
What for? 
Can't they stop the war, 
make peace, 
and live happily together? 

What's wrong with peace? 
Why do they reject peace? 
What do they want now? 
When is it going to be over?

Can we do something to stop the war? 
Me, you, and the Imams and Rabbis? 
Can we take action? 
What can we do to stop the war? 
What can we do to make them realize 
that war won't do any good?  

Why do people want to destroy ? 
Why do people choose to kill themselves 
and others - 
rather than talk and listen? 
Why do people believe that violence can stop violence? 
Why do people hate so much?

I can't find any answer for these questions. 

I feel hopeless. 

A leaf in the storm of world wide war.

I sometimes despair 
and hear with disbelief 
the vacuous statements 
by our so called leaders. 

Presidents, Kings, Imams, Rabbis 

I am afraid that this may be one of those times 
when all the things we should have done 
and did not, 
all the things we should not have done 
and did -- 
now come due

I am new in this place. 

since it is a time of war 

Why do you think 
that space 
is limited only 
to love and good? 
Isn't space unlimited by definition?

Do you believe 
that terrorists will sit with you 
in open space circles 
that perhaps opening space 
with Bin Laden 
could have prevented the attack on the World Trade Center? 

Being a Human Being is a constant learning process, 
and sometimes that learning can be very painful. 
But the greatest tragedy 
would be not to learn. 

I am not sure 
that Opening Space 
with or for Bin Laden 
would have done much good, 
but I am pretty sure 
that had we (all of us) 
diligently opened space for the peoples of the world 
so that the chaos, confusion and conflict 
that inevitably occur in the course of human living 
might have found resolution 
prior to 
explosion -- 
the Bin Ladens of this world would find little fuel for their fires. 

That did not happen and the fires are burning. 

It could have been different, I believe -- 
and may still be different 
if we get to work.

Fear is fear.  Pain is pain.  Injustice is injustice.  Dead is dead.  
One people's fear or pain is not more legitimate than the others.  

It has never been more important than now 
to create the spaces 
for people to come together, 
and through dialogue, 
be reminded 
that we are all human 
and 
what joins us 
is so much much more 
than what divides us. 

for my self, I feel neither helpless nor hopeless. 

In my understanding of life and humanity,
Evil is not evil for the sake of being evil
Terrorists do not become terrorists for the sake of being terrorists…

It all comes out of some closed, oppressed space. 
There is only chance 
and hope 
in opening space 
and hearts 
and inviting 
to witness 
one another. 

I hope our friends fellows neighbours 
also feel, 
they are not alone! 

I wish them love 
and strength 
and courage 
and that they, too, 
do not feel help- 
and hopeless.

It is supporting to know there are many, 
who will keep on going in the spirit of Open Space 
everyone in her and his place of the world 

believing 
that if I can
help just two people 
to really hear 
and listen 
to each other - 
and rediscover their common humanity - 
then it is still worth 
carrying on.
your words 
brought such comfort 
at this moment. 
It makes me think 
that what I offer 
just might have some real value 
after all. 

I now feel less helpless. 
And I know you are right, 
the fever has to run its course - 
it is sometimes just so hard when it hits so close.

I do not accept 
that there is some 'evil' 
that open space can allow in. 

I refuse to accept 
that terrorism and violence are the way! 

Evil acts, in my view, 
are a consequence 
of misunderstanding, oppression, inequality 
If we are ever to find a resolution to conflict 
it can only come about - in the end - 
by talking 
and listening. 

If we are not talking, listening ~and~ respecting - 
we end up commiting more acts of violence. 
Believing that there are 'evil' people 
is but one short step away 
from saying 
that negotiation, listening & building peace 
can ~never ever~ work. 

It is a long process. 

It does not come about 
through strength of arms 
or firing rockets over borders
It is in the end about dialogue 

What shows up in Open Space
is just plain people, 
who come in all shapes and sizes 
with multiple desires, histories and passions. 

Even in violently conflicted environments, 
the people soon find themselves 
with more in common than difference. 
To be sure 
the conversations may be loud and confrontational -- 
but for the most part, 
they are conducted with respect -- 
which often turns into hope 
and trust, 
and strangely, 
even affection. 

To be sure there are psychopaths and thugs. 
Every society has them -- 
but when the space of that society 
is kept open
the pathology of such people 
can be marginalized 
and the toxins they produce 
flushed away. 

when we close space, 
build walls, 
seek to dominate and control 
these same toxins are concentrated 
and eventually become lethal. 

We know all about that, I think.

By accepting  the existence of evil 
we can allow it to move out from our space. 
In vastness of the Space 
which is the matrix of all that exists 
there can be a place for evil 
but it doesn't have to be our space.  

Opening space is a sacred work 
that should create a safe heaven 
and a sacred ground for love to feel safe enough 
to manifest and flourish

That there is evil in this world is not a question, 
although it is interesting that 
my evil 
may well be 
your good 
and visa versa. 
And denial of the presence of evil, 
no matter how it may be defined and understood, 
is not a healthy characteristic for any human being. 

The role of the facilitator occupies a space 
beyond, beneath, outside of all elements 
of "blame and judgment" 

this can be a real tough space to occupy. 

"Whoever comes is the right people" 
"Whatever happens is the only thing that could have."
These go to the heart of the matter. 

The people who show up 
and the events that take place 
simply 
"are" 
and one must deal with them 
as they are. 

Obviously everything "could" have been different. 
And indeed, one might have hoped that they would have been different. 
But the fact remains, they are what they are. 

I don't see this as "denial" in the least -- 
it is simply and profoundly 
the radical acceptance 
of things as they are 
in the present moment.

Assuming the role of Space Opener is a "sacred work." 
It can also be excruciatingly difficult, 
and perhaps impossible for some people 
at some times. 
We need to be fully "there" -- 
in the present moment -- 
regardless of what we may think about it personally.

Many of the policies and actions of both sides 
can feel short sighted, repugnant, and downright evil. 
There may be more than sufficient blame to spread around. 

As long as anything is seen as "opposing side" 
the chances for peace decreases. 

During the course of our days together 
we may feel our own internal anger, fear, doubt, frustration 
sometimes so intensely that we become practically immobilized. 
At such times, our only recourse may be to withdraw to our room 
or to take a long walk -- 
in search of our own centered presence. 
To be very honest, 
there may be moments when we do not think we can handle it -- 
but somehow, some way 
we may find ourselves
drawn, pushed, shoved 
to discover parts of ourselves and our own resources 
that we have never seen before. 

And in almost every case, 
the needed strength, insight, calm 
may come from a few words of just a silent look from one of the participants -- 
who in a marvelous and magical way 
have become openers and holders 
of the space. 
In truth, we all do it, 
and the results are mindblowing

There are times when our own personal 
agenda, experience, feelings 
are so strong 
that it is impossible to rise above them. 

And the remarkable thing is that 
in every instance 
somebody else who could stand in that space did so. 

And if we ever reach a day 
when nobody can step forward, 
it will be a dark day indeed -- 

for the possibility space for human life will simply close. 

But we are not there yet, 
and goodness knows we have a lot of work to do.

When we open space 
even sworn, lifelong enemies 
who are convinced that the "others" 
represent the epitome of evil -- 
find a way to treat each other 
with respect, 
and more often than not, 
come to some reasonable and responsible solutions 
for the issues at hand, 
no matter how painful and conflicted. 

Will this always be true? 
I cannot say, but that has been my experience 

I intend to keep opening space 
so that wonderful people such as you 
can experience that "playground" 
in which real people with real differences 
can meet each other 
with respect. 

And if you are looking for something to do right now -- 
you could try the same thing. 

So - here's to large circles 
and deep listening, 
wide openness 
and huge respect! 

And somewhere 
everything 
and everybody 
is connected 
and every action 
will have an effect 
for all of us.

I am new in this place.

It may take time - 
but we can get there!
Peace.

Imagine.

By Dania Pratiwi,Juliane Ade, Jon Harvey, Argene Carswell, Josef Ralt, Harrison Owen, Shay Ben Yosef, Filiz Telek, Pat Black, Funda Oral and Lisa Heft

August 23, 2006

___________________________
L i s a   H e f t
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
O p e n i n g  S p a c e
lisaheft at openingspace.net
www.openingspace.net 

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